INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri commissioned into Indian Navy, boosting self-reliance in warship building

Visakhapatnam, August 26. In a landmark moment for India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, two state-of-the-art multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, were commissioned into the Indian Navy on Tuesday at the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the ceremony, marking the first-ever simultaneous induction of two frontline surface combatants built at different shipyards in the country.

INS Udaygiri was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The frigates are part of the ambitious Project 17A, designed to succeed the Shivalik-class warships.

Speaking at the event, Rajnath Singh described the induction as a “giant stride” towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, underlining India’s capacity to design and build complex warships on par with global standards.

“These ships will not only secure our maritime interests but also support humanitarian and disaster relief missions. Their commissioning strengthens India’s position as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region,” he said.

Advanced capabilities

Both frigates incorporate next-generation stealth features, reduced radar signatures, advanced radars, electronic warfare suites, supersonic surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, as well as rapid-fire gun systems. Powered by combined diesel or gas propulsion plants, they feature a fully automated integrated platform management system for greater speed and fuel efficiency.

With over 75 percent indigenous content, including weapons and sensors sourced from Indian manufacturers and MSMEs, the ships represent the 100th and 101st warships designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. The Defence Minister praised the seamless collaboration between MDL and GRSE, calling the frigates “symbols of India’s transformative movement towards self-reliance”.

Strategic significance

The new frigates will join the Navy’s Eastern Fleet, enhancing operational readiness on the eastern seaboard. Capable of handling anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, sea-control, and humanitarian operations, they are seen as crucial assets for safeguarding India’s maritime trade routes and energy lifelines.

Rajnath Singh stressed that the Navy has become a key pillar of India’s economic security, citing its role in deterring adversaries and maintaining stability across the Arabian Sea, West Asia, and the eastern African seaboard. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he highlighted the Navy’s rapid response capability, saying: “Our adversaries now realise the strength of the Indian Navy and what it can deliver.”

Navy’s growing power

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi hailed the double commissioning as a “testimony to India’s expanding maritime power”.

He noted that the Navy’s swift deployment during Operation Sindoor had constrained hostile forces and reinforced India’s deterrence posture.

The Navy has a tradition of naming new ships after their distinguished predecessors. The modern INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri honour frigates that served from 1976–2007 and 1974–2005, respectively.

Looking ahead

The keel of INS Udaygiri was laid in May 2019 and the ship was launched in May 2022. INS Himgiri’s keel was laid in November 2018 and launched in December 2020. Both completed extensive sea trials before being delivered in July 2025. Four more ships under Project 17A are at advanced stages of construction and are expected to join the fleet by mid-2026.

The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, senior naval officers said, not only strengthens the Navy’s combat potential but also reaffirms India’s shipbuilding capabilities and its vision of becoming a Blue Water Navy – capable of operating across oceans and projecting maritime power far beyond its shores.